Brian Cartwright Named SEC General Counsel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006-1

Washington, D.C., Jan. 3, 2006 - Top securities lawyer and former astrophysicist Brian G. Cartwright will join the Securities and Exchange Commission as its General Counsel, Chairman Christopher Cox announced today.

Mr. Cartwright will succeed Giovanni Prezioso, who was appointed in April 2002. Mr. Prezioso announced on Nov. 30, 2005, that he intends to return to the private sector early this year.

"As the top lawyer for the SEC -- the investor's advocate - - the General Counsel is also the nation's foremost legal advocate for investors," Chairman Cox said. "Brian Cartwright will be a relentless and powerful champion for investors, and will continue the SEC's tradition of exceptional professionalism. His talent, tenacity, and insight will serve the Commission, the capital markets, and investors well."

Mr. Cartwright, 58, is a partner in the international law firm of Latham & Watkins, and one of the nation's foremost securities law practitioners. He also brings significant managerial experience to the 3,800-employee SEC. Among other management positions at Latham & Watkins, Mr. Cartwright served as Global Chair of the firm's practice representing public companies. As a member of the firm's Executive Committee, he was one of five partners responsible for the management of the firm as a whole.

He began his legal career in 1980 after earning a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was President of the Harvard Law Review and winner of the Sears Prize. He served as law clerk to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor of the United States Supreme Court, and prior to that, as law clerk to U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Malcolm R. Wilkey of the D.C. Circuit.

His previous career was as an astrophysicist. Following his graduation from Yale University in 1967, he earned a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago in 1971. From 1973 to 1977, he was a Research Physicist at the Department of Physics and Space Sciences Laboratory of the University of California, Berkeley. While working as an astrophysicist, Mr. Cartwright published numerous articles in scholarly journals, such as the Astrophysical Journal.

"I look forward to working with Chairman Cox to make sure investors are getting the complete, clear and comprehensible information they need to make prudent investment decisions-whenever possible in a convenient and user-friendly form over the internet," Mr. Cartwright said. "I'm also proud to be joining in the work of the SEC's energetic and dedicated Commissioners and staff in bringing to justice those who abuse investors' trust. By zealously protecting the interests of individual investors, the SEC also ensures the continued strength and dynamism of our nation's capital markets."

Mr. Cartwright will join the Commission on Jan. 23, 2006, and will work closely with the departing General Counsel to ensure a seamless transition.